A Culinary Renaissance

In recent years Highlands has gone through a culinary Renaissance with a demanding public wanting quality, variety, and the freshest of ingredients. Many nationally recognized restaurants have met that demand with a stunning array of interesting, and sometimes surprising dining experiences.

Restaurants such as Wolfgangs on Main, Wild Thyme Gourmet, On the Verandah, Ristorante Paoletti’s, Lakeside, Cyprus and Madison’s Restaurant at Old Edwards Inn & Spa make for tough choices. Great local breakfast spots, country kitchens, outdoor cafes and coffee shops run wonderful interference.

An evening stroll window shopping around town is a nightly ritual, burning off some of those wonderful calories and enjoying the cool mountain nights.stroll window shopping around town is a nightly ritual, burning off some of those wonderful calories and enjoying the cool mountain nights.stroll window shopping around town is a nightly ritual, burning off some of those wonderful calories and enjoying the cool mountain nights.stroll window shopping around town is a nightly ritual, burning off some of those wonderful calories and enjoying the cool mountain nights.stroll windowcalories and enjoying the cool mountain nights.

Just down the road, the towns Cashiers and Lake Toxaway increase the “where to eat” confusion with more enticing choices.

Culture

In addition to the antique and art establishments, there are opportunities to enjoy culture in the Highlands area. Two of the perennial favorites are the Highlands Playhouse and the Highlands Performing Arts Center, community theaters enjoyed by the large population during the summer.

Highlands also offers the Historical Society’s Museum, the Museum of American Cut & Engraved Glass and one of the most visited places in the area, Highlands Nature Center & Biological Station..Highlands Nature Center

The Bascom, a Center for the Visual Arts, offers a variety of diverse exhibits along with studio instruction that is popular for all ages throughout the area.